Tenerife Government Scraps Fañabé Tunnel Project Amid Infrastructure Tensions
Tenerife’s business leaders and the regional government are clashing over infrastructure delays, as officials confirm the cancellation of the Fañabé tunnel project and shift focus toward smaller-scale traffic and healthcare improvements.
Tensions are rising between Tenerife’s business community and the regional government over the management of critical infrastructure in the south of the island. Following a recent meeting of the Forum of Associations and Unions of Tenerife (FAST) in Los Cristianos, local leaders expressed frustration over bureaucratic delays and the stalling of key projects.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo used the meeting to outline a new strategy, focusing on immediate improvements rather than large-scale projects that may no longer be viable. Notably, the government has officially scrapped the Fañabé tunnel project. A long-standing legal dispute between the contractor and the Ministry of Public Works—involving a disagreement over millions of euros in compensation—has left the project at a standstill. Clavijo stated that there is no funding for a new tender and that the original design no longer meets current regulations.
Traffic congestion remains the top concern for the hotel sector, with travel times in the southern corridor often jumping from five to fifty minutes. While the President confirmed that an additional lane between Oroteanda and Las Américas will be built during this term, business leader José Fernando Cabrera warned that delays are already driving up costs. Other long-term projects, such as the Guaza-Valle San Lorenzo tunnel and the Fonsalía port, have been sidelined, with the government admitting there is little political will to move forward with the port.
The South Airport was also a major topic of discussion. Addressing complaints about long queues at passport control due to staff shortages, Clavijo blamed an inefficient management system but noted that the Ministry of the Interior has promised to increase police presence.
On a more positive note, the healthcare sector has a clearer path forward. The government expects to finalize plans for the expansion of the Hospital del Sur by the end of the year, aiming to budget for the project in 2027. Meanwhile, officials are working to secure long-term funding for the El Mojón socio-sanitary center through a new ten-year economic development fund designed to support housing and social services across the islands.